### **Northern Snow Skink (*Carinascincus greeni*)**
Identification
This alpine specialist is a master of the "squeeze." Measuring roughly 50–65mm (snout-to-vent), the Northern Snow Skink possesses a notably flattened head and body, an evolutionary gift for navigating the tight fissures of Tasmanian dolerite. Its dorsal color is a stunning olive-green to dark bronze, heavily peppered with black flecks that provide perfect camouflage against lichen-covered rocks. Unlike its cousin, the Metallic Skink, *C. greeni* has distinctly keeled scales, giving it a subtle, textured appearance rather than a high-gloss sheen. Look for the pale, often greyish-white belly to confirm your sighting.
Habitat & Range
Strictly endemic to the rugged highlands of Tasmania, this skink is a true mountaineer. It is found almost exclusively on high-altitude plateaus and scree slopes above 1,000 meters, particularly in the Central Highlands and the Ben Lomond plateau. It is a "rock-obligate" species, tethered to the massive dolerite boulder fields that define the Tasmanian alpine landscape.
Behaviour
On a crisp mountain morning, you’ll spot them "heliotherming"—basking intensely on dark rocks to soak up the alpine sun. They are incredibly agile but wary; a passing shadow will send them darting into the deepest crevices of the rock stack. Because the high-altitude summers are so short, they are viviparous, giving birth to 2–4 fully formed live young rather than laying eggs that would likely freeze in the sub-alpine soil.
Diet
These skinks are opportunistic hunters. They forage among the rocks for high-energy invertebrates, including small spiders, beetles, and flies that are often blown up the mountain slopes by thermals. They have also been known to lick nectar from hardy alpine wildflowers.
Fascinating Fact
The Northern Snow Skink is a biological marvel of cold tolerance. While most reptiles retreat into deep dormancy, these skinks have been observed basking on rocks surrounded by snowbanks, utilizing the thermal mass of the dolerite to stay active in temperatures that would immobilize almost any other lizard!